Wallet, including retaining clip



Oct. 4, 1955 B. E. BELL 2,719,557

WALLET, INCLUDING RETAINING CLIP Filed Jun 16, 1955 Bernard E. Bell IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent WALLET, INCLUDING RETAINKNG CLIP Bernard E. Bell, Boston, Mass.

Application June 16, 1953, Serial No. 361,969

1 Ciaim. (C1. 15G38) This invention relates generally to wallet structure and pertains more particularly to a simplified and improved form thereof for carrying bills in a most convenient and novel manner.

A primary object of this invention is to provide an improved form of retaining clip for wallets to effect a durable wallet member which is of simple and effective construction and which lends itself readily to mass production.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in Which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wallet constructed in accordance with the invention, showing the same in perspective with the flaps thereon in open position;

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken substantially along the plane of section line 22 of Figure 1 showing details of the retaining clip assembly on an enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the channel locking strip; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the retaining clip.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral indicates an outer cover flap forming a portion of a wallet construction to which is secured the inner pocket member 12 as by the lines of stitching 14 and 16 at opposite sides thereof and reference numeral 18 indicates another outer cover flap having the inner window member 2% suitably secured thereto in the manner shown, which inner member is provided with the opening 22 within which suitable material, such as cellophane or the like 24, may be inserted for the purpose of retaining identification card and the like, in a manner Well known and understood in the art. In this respect, the wallet construction thus far described is perfectly conventional in construction and it is to be understood that the invention is in no way limited to the particular construction herein shown inasmuch as its manner of operation is easily applicable to many types of wallet construction.

The flap members are of generally elongated rectangular construction in the embodiment shown in the drawings and are connected together at one of their ends as by the stitching 26, as will be readily apparent from Figure 2. The retaining clip assembly, indicated generally by the reference character 28 includes a shank portion 30 which is disposed in juxtaposed position with relation to the secured ends of the fiap members and an intermediate po-r tion of the clip 32 is angulated in the manner shown and the free end 34, forming a continuation thereof, is pref erably formed of arcuate configuration, in the manner shown and terminates in the looped portion 36, so as to present a smooth end for a purpose presently apparent. Since the retaining clip is formed of resilient metallic material, and is additionally formed so that a portion of the end 34 and the shank 3%), are in mutual interengagement as indicated by the reference character 38, the end 34, being disposed between the flaps 10 and 18, will be urged thereagainst at their line of connection to retain bills or the like thereagainst when the same are disposed beneath the clip end portion 34, as will be readily apparent.

The other end 40 of the clip is looped around to overlie a portion of the shank 30, in the manner shown, and this end portion of the clip is also disposed between the flap members 18 and 10 so that the retaining clip is disposed in partially surrounding relation transversely of the Wallet. A locking or clamping channel, indicated generally by the reference character 42, includes the bight portion 44, disposed contiguously with the shank 30 of the retaining clip and the length of this channel strip is such as to terminate just short of the opposite looped end portions of the retaining clip so that the marginal free edges 46, of the strip legs 48, are crimped or otherwise formed inwardly, in the manner shown, so that their free edges are in engagement with the flaps 10 and 18 and are spaced apart a distance less than the width of the retaining clip.

In this manner, the opposite ends of the locking channel will engage against the looped end portion of the retaining clip to prevent its lateral disengagement from the wallet while at the same time the locking channel cannot he slid transversely of the wallet by virtue of the fact that the opposite ends 34 and 40 of the clip are looped around opposite edges of the wallet.

In this manner, the restraining clip and the locking channel interengage with one another and with the wallet construction to prevent subsequent loosening and disengagement of either of these members from the Wallet while at the same time it will be readily appreciated that this result is obtained in a more efficient and uncomplicated manner whereby the ultimate cost to the consumer of Wallets constructed in accordance with this invention will be maintained at a minimum.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes Will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

in a wallet having a pair of elongated flaps with side edges, and rear ends connected together with flush edges alon lines parallel to said flush edges, a clip having a flat shank extending along and engaging said flush edges flatly and provided with end loops extending outwardly of said side edges and forwardly of said lines of connection in between said flaps, said clip having a resilient free end portion connected to said shank by one of said loops and extending in between said flaps forwardly of said lines of connection for reaction rearwardly to clamp paper currency to said flaps, and a channel locking strip for said clip straddling said shank and rear ends and flatly engaging said shank and clampingly engaging said flaps forwardly of said lines of connection, said locking strip having opposite ends projecting into and engaging said loops at both side edges of the flaps to lock said clip in place and prevent endwise displacement of said locking strip.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,419,092 Schupbach et al. Apr. 15, 1947 2,455,515 Miller Dec. 7, 1948 2,658,545 Weydener Nov. 10, 1953 

